Jerusalem Must Exercise Sovereignty over Temple Mount

Chairman Dov Kalmanovich of Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home-New National Religious Party) in Jerusalem said, Sunday, that the city must enforce the law on the Temple Mount as it does in other parts of the capital. Addressing party activists, he said, "The Temple Mount , the holiest place for the Jewish people is not X territory," adding that "The responsibility for this compound is in the hands of the Jerusalem Municipality and it is the one that issued building permits - like that of the Mughrabi [Rambam] Bridge - and therefore it also is supposed to be the one to enforce the planning and construction laws on the grounds of the mount."

Kalmanovich said that in order to replace the bridge - determined by the city engineer to be dangerous - the mayor should travel to Jordan and seek permission from King Abdullah II. He said, "The time has come to change the situation. The Jerusalem municipality should exercise sovereignty over the Temple Mount. We will not allow harm to municipal and state sovereignty in this holy place ." He added that immediately after his election to the City Council, he is going to meet on the issue with his party chairman and Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, Naftali, Bennett to promote the move .